with Mick Smith - Vice President of Design at Eastern Lighting Design On this episode, we discuss being a father and husband in the entertainment industry, knowing that we wanted to be in the industry as a teenager, the lifestyle of touring Broadway shows, the difference between New York Show Biz and LA show biz, what frustrates us most about the lighting business, finding a way to use the entertainment industry to spend more time at home. Please visit: www.easternlightingdesign.com...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 144
with Luis Garcia - Lighting & Media Designer On this episode, we discuss climbing the ranks quickly before the pandemic closed us down, staying optimistic about our industry during isolation, shifting from in-person productions to virtual, what it’s like to be the youngest in the room with fresh ideas, proving yourself to the older generation, permanently changing the norms of our industry and expanding the scope of productions, joining a progressive union in Oregon, and making strong contac...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 143
with Jim Tetlow - Former President and current Principal Consultant at Nautilus Entertainment Design On this episode, we discuss Nautilus Entertainment Design, Inc. becoming an employee-owned business, changing roles during the pandemic, forming ESOP to sell NED to the employees, grooming people to take over a successful business, what to look forward to in his new role, reflecting on over 30 years of experience, and some stories from the trenches. Please visit: www.n-e-d.com...
Feb 19, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 172
with Adam Honoré - Lighting Designer out of New York City On this episode, we discuss seven teachers who have influenced Adam’s adventures in the entertainment industry, how the students of 2020 might get a chance to work in the entertainment industry, modern lighting portfolios, modern technology being taught in schools, how prevalent the arts need to be in schools in the modern era, and how we treat modern artists and teachers. Please send your respect to these influencers: Mrs. Raye Ann Cox -...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 171
With Jason Giaffo - Lighting Programmer and Director at Giaffo Designs On this episode, we discuss working on getting out of the hyper-competitive mindset, scrolling through social media feeds with jealousy, learning to be happy for other people's successes, dealing with the tendency to always need to be doing something out of feeling like you’re never doing enough and understanding nobody can be 100% at all times, dealing with attention deficit issues, the mental health benefits of just staying...
Feb 15, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 170
with Chris Gratton - Production Manager On this episode, we discuss working during a pandemic, working in the Bieber Bubble, the corporatization of the industry, mandatory COVID testing, demanding COVID regulations to continue working, finding surprises even after thirty years in the industry, changing attitudes from rock ’n roll touring to KIDZBOP touring, the eventual vaccination of roadies, and being polite to get what you need. Please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gratton-3b9b6866...
Feb 15, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 169
with Guy Smith - Owner and Lighting Designer at Free Radical Design Group On this episode, we discuss the cruise ship party scene, doing mega events in remote locations, leaving the profession of detox counselor to run lights in a night club, learning the ropes in NYC, the underground party scene, learning the fundamentals of lighting after being a professional, how we can increase diversity of opinion in entertainment, My Little Pony riggers, and how to use broad strokes to recreate the primal ...
Feb 12, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 168
with Andrew Douglas - President/Owner of Touch Light & Media, Inc. On this episode, we discuss how we are roadie pirates who have to put on a suit and do corporate gigs, The gray areas between rock and corporate, the speed of corporate shows vs. rock n roll, the expectations of a headlining band in a corporate situation, the desire to rock and roll but the necessity of doing corporate events, corporate stagehands vs. roadies, dress codes on the road and in the ballroom, adapting to new sched...
Feb 12, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 167
with Darrius Medina - Founder and Lighting Designer at Lit Creative On this episode, we discuss adapting and growing during the pandemic, transitioning to a normal sleep schedule, getting a leg up lighting houses of worship, progress from pushing cases to tech to programmer to designer, learning new skills on the fly, saying yes to as many opportunities as possible, building a creative team around oneself and the ability to adapt to change. “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” - Ste...
Feb 12, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 166
with Chris Lisle - Production Designer out of Nashville On this episode, we discuss lighting design at the Flag of Fields and lighting of pillars at the National Mall during the Inauguration ceremony utilizing more than 1500 lights just to light the flags and 56 beams in the air, getting a call to go to work the capitol, what security was like, the COVID regulations, getting enough gear, doing events with more media than audience, working with the Presidential Inauguration Committee, and knowing...
Feb 10, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 165
with Jason Trowbridge - LIghting Crew Chief at PRG. On this episode, we discuss what a crew chief does, how to read and translate a plot, how to manage a crew and delegate responsibilities, what to look for when selecting a crew, how to take pride in your gig, the progression away from working on lights in the rig, some war stories from lighting past, when to yell at a crew and when not to, the unique lifestyle of a lighting crew chief, and Dimmer Beach Monthly. Please visit: http://Dimmerbeachm...
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 164
with Alex Vasquez Dheming - Lighting Programmer, Designer and Production Manager On this episode, we discuss her experience as an immigrant artist, the logistics of being on an O1 visa in the midst of a pandemic, See Lighting Foundation Artists, the need for sustainability in the arts, allowing efficiency to rule the design process, replacing outdated fixtures with greener fixtures, working in theater in the American South as opposed to New York City and Latin America, and if energy efficiency m...
Feb 05, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 163
with Cha See - Lighting Designer at See Lighting Design On this episode, we discuss the role of the See Lighting Foundation, The roles of immigration and class in the arts and shaping the work of the local theater, where racism and classism still exist in our industry, how to encourage diversity in entertainment, what it can be like for immigrants to be working in our industry, how travel restrictions reduce business opportunities, how we can improve working conditions, and how to make a differe...
Jan 30, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 162
with Chris Stuba - Lighting Designer/Director at Stuba Light On this episode, we discuss being a lighting director in the new industry, the differences between directing and designing, what a lighting director is and is not, talking about what we do in and out of the industry, the corporatization of the rock ’n roll industry, sharing war stories, and living for the music. Please visit: http://stubalight.com
Jan 28, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 162
with Steve Adelman - Head of Adelman Law Group and Vice President of the Event Safety Alliance On this episode, we discuss the legal ramifications of working in the age of COVID, lawyer teaching us lawyer stuff, employer regulations for COVID compliance, the pitfalls of corporate Immunity, duty, breach, causation, harm, revocable license, vaccine regulations, vaccine requirements, proof of vaccinations, the role of COVID compliance officers, and whether these regulations can be enforced independ...
Jan 28, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 161
with Victor Fable - Lighting Designer and DP at VFL On this episode, we discuss how the digital age has brought us closer together and driven us farther apart, creating a memorable connection in a huge stadium and an intimate environment, how the pandemic has affected human interactions, using television to maximize the connection or diminish the impact of the entertainer, how important a good programmer is to achieve your goals, using lighting to connect the audience to the performer without be...
Jan 23, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 156
with Gabe Fraboni - Founder at PHNTM Labs On this episode, we discuss how to keep the creative vibes flowing pre and post isolation, psychedelics use in the design process, being young and full of optimism, walking with one leg, breaking into the entertainment business, computers becoming conscious, how the current education system can be refined to nurture creativity, finding inspiration in the natural world, working with Martin Garrix, and being mindful of the audience’s personal experience. P...
Jan 22, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 160
With Bob Peterson - Owner/Lighting Designer at Real World Lighting, Inc. out of Chicago On this episode, we discuss the transition of our industry from grumpy, angry pirates to jovial refined technicians, how the digital age has influenced how we share connections, creating impact in large and small venues like the White House, Wrigley Field and Ryman Auditorium, using television to increase the connection or diminish the impact of the entertainer, accepting external influences while maintaining...
Jan 22, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 159
with Beth Weinstein - Conference Director and Marketer at BDub Marketing On this episode, we discuss networking, adaptability, how to pivot temporarily til the entertainment biz returns if necessary, we destigmatize the need to to pivot, what employers are looking for on a resume, what skills do you have that apply to anything outside of our industry, how to market yourself, polishing your resume, finding a job working from home, using your degree to secure a job, staying relevant without being ...
Jan 22, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 158
with Luke Edwards - Creative Director and Lighting Designer out the UK On this episode, we discuss running a console during brain surgery, a massive brain tumor inside his head, how to support mental health in our industry, getting married during a pandemic, using technology to increase theatrical impact, lighting for the personal cameras in the audience, technology making our lives easier and harder, feeling like an audience member at our shows, working closely with Gary Numan, being the lighti...
Jan 20, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 155
with Stephanie Freed - Production Electrician / Lighting Designer and Co Director at ExtendPUA.org On this episode, we discuss what we can to to support our brothers and sisters in the entertainment industry in times of need, the mission of ExtendPUA, the utility of letter campaigns, how government agencies can do more to protect their citizens from poverty, how we can avoid unsafe situations through proper precautions, why corporate immunity should be scrutinized, how base unemployment is not a...
Jan 20, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 153
with Stephanie Johnson - Lighting Designer at Light Essence Design On this episode, we discuss being one of very few professional Black lighting designers in California, being a second-generation theater practitioner, the role of race in shaping the work of the local theater, how to encourage diversity in entertainment, how public policy can be shaped to increase diversity, being able to express yourself in multiple mediums, the power of public performance, paving the way for future generations ...
Jan 20, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 157
with E-hui - Lighting Designer & Electrician out of Washington DC and Singapore On this episode, we discuss deciding to stay in Singapore during the pandemic, how theater production fare id continuing in Singapore, some difference between the work in Singapore and the USA, her preferential environment/setting to create art, the pros and cons of remote designing, creating long lasting relationships in theatre communities around the world, staying connected with your theatre families during th...
Jan 18, 2021•54 min•Ep. 154
with Philip Vilar - Lighting and Projection Designer Maegan Wilson - Product Support Specialist at High End Systems On this episode, we discuss how to increase diversity of opinion in theater, how to break down the barriers to our industry, how to overcome the obstacles that might prevent creative minds admission to show biz, how to create enthusiasm for the next generation of entertainment professionals, what and how to teach the next generation, the importance of compensated internships, and h...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 152
with Christina Watanabe - Knights of Illumination award winning Lighting Designer and Educator On this episode, we discuss how to create enthusiasm for the next generation of entertainment professionals, what the students of 2020 will need to do to get a chance to work in entertainment, the benefits of having real world experience in the classroom, how to teach theater during a pandemic, the creativity sparks necessary to make it in show biz, the importance of finding a supportive mentor, remain...
Jan 12, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 151
with Eric Cathcart - Lighting Designer at Bigtime Lighting Design LLC On this episode, we discuss how our job influences our identity, explaining what we do at dinner parties with people not in our industry, how specific we get when people ask about our job, whether or not it matters that other people understand our profession, how to answer the question “Do you get to hang out with the Black Keys?”, how to explain what happens on the road, the 1980’s idea of rock and roll touring, ticket reques...
Jan 10, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 150
with Nick Whitehouse - Lighting Designer and CEO at Fireplay! On this episode, we discuss how creativity needs to be important as we resume live shows, how to remain kind and humble under high pressure circumstances, how every single person is equally important on the way up and the way down, developing the bravery to ask questions of mentors and role models, sharing knowledge respectfully and logically, maintaining a proper relationship with clients, how to decide who is correct in the creative...
Jan 09, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 149
with Squeek - Managing Partner at Squeek Lights On this episode, we discuss imposter syndrome, how to sell what you are doing even when you are just treading water, how to perceive social media glamorization, what it’s like to be off the road and in a new environment, maintaining and expanding a lighting rental shop amidst pandemic, starting a business from scratch, government assistance to stay afloat, lighting cars with stage lighting and other bad ideas. Please visit: https://squeeklights.com...
Dec 19, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 148
with Brent Sandrock - Lighting / Media Programmer at Creative Lumens ON this episode, we discuss Gingerbread roadies, their baking time, licorice lace tensile strength, vanilla wafer trusses, tootsie roll speakers, graham cracker decking, #WeMakeEvents, what programmers moving to design should be mindful of, diversifying your skill sets, being aware of everyone’s role in entertainment, and who should be in charge of their own content. Please visit: http://www.creativelumens.com/ and https://yout...
Dec 19, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 147
Jackson Gallagher, Jeremy Lechterman and Michael “Hank” Hankowsky of Fragment Nine. On this episode, we discuss the war stories form over one-hundred days in the NBA bubble in Orlando, how they maintained, where they lived, how they quarantined, what the rules were like, how strict the guidelines were, how much pickle ball they could play, how to grow plants in a hotel room, how to maintains sanity in quarantine and thinking that McDonald’s is freedom. Please visit: www.fragmentnine.com...
Dec 19, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 146
